"If you are really a Muslim, and you love your religion, boycott his projects," said a message from a Facebook group called We are Joking Sawiris. "We have to cut out the tongue of any person who attacks our religion."

Another Facebook group calls itself "We Hate You Mickey Sawiris."

Sawiris launched a political party calling for the separation of mosque and state after the fall of former President Hosni Mubarak in February.

Sectarian violence between the majority Muslims and the minority coptic Christians has plagued the country since the revolution began.